Barraza's record-setting night propels Bulldogs back into regional final

FOSTORIA – Columbus Grove senior running back entered the Division VII regional semifinal game against Mohawk Friday night with 5,852 career rushing yards with 60 touchdowns. He left Fostoria's Memorial Stadium the all-time leader in career rushing yards in school history after tallying 28 carries for 282 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 35-13 victory over the Warriors. "It was a good moment … I had the record in the back of my mind, but really the main focus was to get to next week. I'd trade the record to keep winning and to keep playing football forever," Barraza said. "Those guys up front whether we pass or run, they're giving us time and getting their blocks. I can't thank those guys enough, those are my boys up front."His coach Andy Schafer added when asked about Barraza: "He's good … he's good," he said with a grin. "He got the record tonight and he set the record tonight that literally everyone in the Columbus Grove community thought he would never break, so that was special. The biggest thing is the way Trenton carried himself the entire season. He wasn't chasing the record, he knew it would come if we kept winning games. It was pretty special to break a record on a touchdown."Mohawk (10-3) knew where the ball was going most of the night, but like he's done all season long, Barraza just kept churning out yards and first downs that eventually turned into touchdowns. It began on the opening drove Friday night. He converted three third downs on the drive as the last one was a third-and-goal at the two as he bulled his way into the end zone for the opening score.After the Evan Verhoff extra point it was 7-0 Bulldogs four minutes in. But Mohawk did move the ball and threaten the Bulldogs' defense on the ensuing drive. The Warriors executed a 14-play drive, but it ended as Ben Bogner was sacked at CG's 35 on a turnover on downs, which was a common theme for the Warriors. Barraza added his second touchdown – this one from a yard out – to begin the second quarter. Then after turnovers by both teams, he punched in another 2-yard rushing score to put the Bulldogs ahead 21-0 at the half."He's incredible," Mohawk coach Eric Daniel said of Barraza's performance. "We would fit him up in the hole and then he would bounce it get skinny and cutback … he's an excellent running back and he'll be excellent at the second level whether it's at Tiffin, Findlay, Heidelberg … somebody has to be looking at this kid. He's special."Columbus Grove (13-0) had the momentum at the half, but if Mohawk scored coming out of the half, things could change. That's exactly what the Warriors did. After another long drive (16 plays), Bogner plowed his way into the end zone on a 2-yard run to give the Warriors some hope trailing 21-7 late in the third quarter.However, four plays later, Barraza dazzled with a 48-yard rushing score with a stiff arm to give the Bulldogs a 28-7 advantage and all the momentum.Gavin Barraza picked off a pass on the ensuing Warriors' drive and then Trenton broke the school record on his 15-yard score in the fourth quarter to put the Warriors away with a 35-7 edge.Mohawk did score again – a Kaden Bish 8-yard rushing score – but it was too late for the Warriors."I thought they exposed our defense a little bit tonight too," Schafer said. "All we saw leading up to this game was the deep pass, deep pass and they did a great job with the short stuff, so maybe we over-prepared for the deep stuff because we shut that down pretty good, but we gotta figure out a way to tackle better the short game."We don't have a preference who we play (next week). We expected to be in the regional finals and now we have to make it to the next step."The Bulldogs will play Delphos St. John's (6-7), who edged Leipsic 21-13.For Mohawk, Bogner finished 21 of 32 passing for 193 yards and added 26 carries for 64 yards on the ground.Kaleb Bish caught nine passes for 88 yards and Kahne Hayman finished with eight grabs for 79 yards.After a 2-8 season a year ago, a trip to the regional semifinal was a solid bounce-back season. But the incredible senior class built a standard now for the Warriors to follow in the years to come."Every single one of those kids – it's Week 13 – are banged to hell and they just grind it. You weren't keeping these kids off the field. They love the game too much, they love the program too much and they love each other too much," Daniel said. "I'm proud of them. This is the toughest group I've ever been around. I couldn't be more grateful and they showed us what Mohawk football is supposed to look like."They showed our young guys what it's like to be a tough football player, a selfless football player and I can't articulate how much we appreciate those guys, how much we love them. You've seen the turnaround … it's been awesome. I can't believe how much a little buy-in and good leadership has taken this program in a year."